The Clay Snug is a small independent ceramics studio in Leicestershire, born from a love of making things by hand and giving them a story.
My work moves between hand-built ceramics, personalised pieces, clay silkscreens and Raku firing. I particularly love Raku because the process gives me control right up until the moment I have to let go and let the fire do its thing.
That final reveal is different every time, and that's exactly what makes it exciting.
Obvara turns heat, fermentation and chance into smoky, one-of-a-kind surfaces. My first collection of handmade Obvara hearts is taking shape now.
Coming soon
What is Obvara?
An Eastern European-inspired firing process in which red-hot ceramics meet a fermented mixture of flour, yeast, sugar and water. The surface sizzles, smokes and transforms in seconds—leaving patterns that can never be repeated.
01HEATThe piece is reheated until glowing hot.
02TRANSFORMThe fermented mixture scorches its marks into the clay.
03QUENCHA water dip stops the reaction and reveals the surface.
First from the fire
Soft creams, smoky charcoals and warm sepia blooms. Each heart emerges with its own completely individual character.
Smoky bloomWarm sepia heartAsh and laceSmoke constellation
The first Obvara collection is coming soon.
New pieces will appear here as each firing emerges—no two will ever be the same.
Made by hand in Leicestershire
A little inspiration from Foxton Locks
When robins appear, loved ones are near.
After seeing a little robin at Foxton Locks, I wanted to capture that comforting feeling in clay. These handmade Raku robin dishes are small keepsakes with a practical purpose — perfect for keeping your rings safe while you wash up.
Each robin is individually made and fired, so every one has its own smoky marks, metallic flashes and character.
Raku is a process of heat, smoke and surprise. Each piece is heated until glowing, removed from the kiln and placed into combustible material. Smoke and reduction then transform the surface, creating flashes of copper, black, metallic and smoky colour.
The result is wonderfully unpredictable. Every piece carries its own marks and character, so no two firings can ever be completely the same.
Smoke & reductionThe Raku kilnGlowing hotLifted by handThe reveal begins
The Clay Snug
Beautifully imperfect. Completely individual.
From little clay keepsakes to statement Raku ceramics, everything is made with the intention that it feels like it belongs to someone, somewhere, for a very long time.
Prices from £60
Bespoke & personal
A sentiment shaped in clay.
This Raku-fired oak leaf was commissioned with the words “Forever in our hearts” stamped into the clay — a special sentiment made to help someone remember a loved one.
The oak leaf has a personal meaning for me too. My grandparents loved Bradgate Park, and we chose a brass oak leaf bearing their names for the park's Memorial Wood. That connection inspired me to create keepsakes that hold stories, names and memories close.
Your own bespoke oak leaf
Tell me the names, dates or short wording you would like stamped into your leaf when you enquire. Each piece is made and Raku fired by hand, so its copper, smoky and iridescent finish will be completely individual. Prices start at £60.
Raku firing creates natural variations, smoky markings and fine crackle. The piece shown is the individual piece you will receive.
Information
Delivery
UK delivery only
Orders are sent within the United Kingdom using Royal Mail Tracked 48 small parcel delivery. Delivery costs £4.99 per order and tracking details will be emailed when your parcel is dispatched.
Ready-made pieces will be carefully packed and sent after payment has cleared. Bespoke and commissioned pieces take longer to make; an estimated making and dispatch time will be agreed with you before your commission is confirmed.
Royal Mail delivery times are estimates and may occasionally be affected by circumstances outside The Clay Snug's control. Please check that your delivery address is correct when ordering.
Damaged or missing parcels
If your order arrives damaged, please email theclaysnug@gmail.com as soon as possible with your order number and clear photographs of the item and packaging. Keep all packaging while the issue is being resolved. If tracking shows a delivery problem, please contact me so I can investigate it with Royal Mail.
Information
Returns & cancellations
Ready-made pieces
I hope you love your piece. If you change your mind about a standard, ready-made item bought online, email theclaysnug@gmail.com within 14 days of receiving it. You then have a further 14 days to return it.
Return items unused, undamaged and securely packaged. Unless the item is faulty or was sent in error, you are responsible for the return postage and for the parcel until it reaches me. A tracked service is recommended. Eligible refunds will be made to the original payment method after the returned item is received.
Commissions and personalised work
Bespoke, made-to-order and personalised commissions cannot be cancelled or returned once making has begun, and change-of-mind returns are not accepted because the piece has been created especially for you. I will ask you to approve wording and key details before work starts.
This does not affect your legal rights. If a commissioned or ready-made item is faulty, damaged on arrival or not as described, please contact me so I can put things right.
Cancellations before dispatch
For a ready-made item, contact me as soon as possible if you need to cancel. If it has already been dispatched, it will need to be returned under the process above.
Information
Caring for your Raku
Raku ceramics are decorative pieces created through rapid heating, flame, smoke and reduction. Treat your piece gently so its distinctive surface can be enjoyed for years.
Display indoors and keep away from frost, prolonged damp, strong direct sunlight and sudden changes in temperature.
Dust with a soft, dry cloth. If necessary, wipe gently with a barely damp cloth and dry immediately.
Do not soak, put in a dishwasher or use abrasive cleaners, polish or scouring pads.
Raku ware is porous and is not intended for food, drink, a microwave, oven or dishwasher.
Do not use the hearts or leaves as candle holders or expose them to a naked flame.
Handle carefully. Fine crackle is part of the glaze, but ceramic pieces can chip or break if knocked or dropped.
The unglazed back may have a natural carbon-black finish from the smoke-reduction process. This is intentional. Place the piece on a clean, dry surface; a small felt pad may be used beneath it if you wish to protect delicate furniture.
Information
Raku variation & disclaimer
Every Clay Snug Raku piece is individually handmade and fired. The process deliberately creates unpredictable colour, crackle, smoke marks, metallic flashes, carbon-black areas and subtle surface variations. These are natural characteristics of Raku and make each piece unique; they are not faults.
Colours—particularly copper and iridescent finishes—can appear different as the light, viewing angle and screen change. Product photographs are taken to represent each individual piece as accurately as possible, but an exact colour match cannot be guaranteed.
Raku pottery is porous, decorative and more delicate than conventional tableware. It is not food-safe or watertight and should not be used for food, drink or fresh flowers filled with water. Small pinholes, fine crackle, texture and slight variations in shape are part of the handmade process.
The reverse of some pieces is unglazed and naturally blackened by carbon absorbed from smoke during reduction. Please follow the Raku Care guidance supplied on this website.
Last updated 16 September 2026
Privacy policy
The Clay Snug is an independent ceramics business based in Leicestershire, UK. For questions about your personal information, email theclaysnug@gmail.com.
Information collected
When you enquire, commission or order, I may receive your name, email address, telephone number, delivery and billing address, order details, personalised wording and messages you choose to send. PayPal processes payment information securely; The Clay Snug does not receive or store your full card details.
How it is used
Your information is used to reply to enquiries, create and deliver orders, take payment, provide customer service, prevent fraud, keep legally required business records and resolve disputes. The legal bases relied on are taking steps at your request, performing our contract, complying with legal obligations and legitimate interests in operating and protecting the business.
Who information is shared with
Only the services needed to run the business receive relevant information, such as the website host, email provider, PayPal and Royal Mail. Information may also be shared with professional advisers or authorities where required by law. Personal information is not sold.
How long it is kept
Order and accounting records are normally kept for up to six years after the relevant financial year. Unsuccessful general enquiries are normally deleted within 12 months unless there is a reason to keep them longer. Information is kept only for as long as reasonably necessary.
Your rights
Depending on the circumstances, you may ask for access to, correction or deletion of your information, restrict or object to its use, or request a portable copy. You may also complain to the UK Information Commissioner's Office. Contact The Clay Snug first if you would like help with a privacy request.
Website services
The Clay Snug basket works only while this page is open and is not stored for later. After a successful payment, the website stores the product reference and PayPal order reference so the unique piece can be shown as sold and cannot be bought again; it does not store the customer's card details. PayPal provides checkout and may use cookies or similar technologies that are necessary for its service. This site does not currently use advertising or analytics cookies. Technical information may be processed by the website host for security and reliable delivery, and Google Fonts may receive basic technical request information when fonts load.
This policy may be updated when checkout, mailing-list or analytics services change. The latest version will always appear here.
